PLANT OF THE WEEK

CYCLAMEN HEDERIFOLIUM

Autumn-flowering cyclamen is called Cyclamen hederifolium. The small pink, mauve or white flowers appear from early August with the last flush in November. The leaves follow and form a patterned low ground covering where you have planted thickly or allowed plants to self-seed. The patchwork effect lasts until late spring.

Autumn cyclamen looks brilliant on a raised bed, in a scree garden or in light shade under trees. The tubers sit half above and half under the ground so it’s no good growing them somewhere where you will be disturbing the soil.

You can buy plants in pots now. If offered a few cyclamen from a garden, dig them up in spring when the foliage dies down, lift them with plenty of root, then transplant.